Lanham private school campaigns for tech grant

Officials at Lanham Christian School are working to get out the vote to try to secure $25,000 in grant money to purchase interactive white boards at the K-12 school.

The school of around 220 students is a contestant in Clorox’s Power a Bright Future program, which will award seven grants to schools across the U.S. for special programs or upgrades.

The Oakland, Calif.-based company will grant three $25,000 grants based on proposals from the more than 2,500 applicants, along with four vote-based grants, one $50,000 grant for the overall top vote-getter and three $25,000 grants for the top vote recipients in each of three categories.

Randy Burr, executive director of Lanham Christian School, said the school has received an outpouring of support from the community since entering the grant contest, and as of Dec. 6 was 22nd in its “Explore” category.

“Many of the other schools [vying for a grant] are quite large,” Burr said. “For our school of around 220 students to be ranked where we are, it’s been quite a school community effort.”

Burr said the school has held a number of events to encourage voting, from a pep rally at the school’s affiliated church, Lanham Grace Brethren Church, to encourage parishioners to vote by phone during the church service. He said the interactive white boards, which cost between $3,000 and $4,000 each, will enhance the learning experience.

“The smart board is touch responsive and interactive, so students and teachers can interact with the computer and it enhances the learning environment,” Burr said.